Postoperative nausea and vomiting at Landspitali: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

In the last decade, anaesthesia practice has changed at Landspitali, where the majority of patients now receive antiemetic prophylaxis, and the use of total intravenous anaesthesia is the dominant mode for maintenance of anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in a prospective way, the use of PONV prophylaxis, and clinical risk factors associated with PONV during this era.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study using a convenience sample of 438 patients ≥18 years old admitted to the postoperative care unit (PACU) after elective or emergency operations in May-July 2022 at Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland. Patients answered questionnaires in the PACU and 24 h after discharge from PACU.

RESULTS

The incidence of self-reported moderate/severe nausea (5/10 or higher on NRS) in PACU was 4% and 3% on postoperative day 1. A total of 91% of delivered anaesthetics were with intravenous medications only, and 82% of patients received at least one prophylactic medication for PONV. When asked to rate the worst nausea experienced, this was described as moderate/severe by 7% in PACU and 17% on postoperative day 1. Risk factors associated with PONV were female gender (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.04-3.53) and a history of motion sickness or PONV (2.74, 1.51-4.94), but increasing age was protective (0.83 per decade, 0.71-0.98). Despite a more liberal administration of antiemetics, patients with more risk factors per Apfel PONV risk classification had a higher incidence of PONV.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of PONV is generally low in this diverse surgical population where anaesthesia is mostly maintained with total intravenous anaesthesia and PONV prophylaxis is common. PONV remains a predictable complication following anaesthesia, suggesting further improvement in its prevention is possible.